The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-16
PILLARS OF THE CHURCH.
Members Of the Different Congregations
Who Are the Most Active Workers.
Generous Contributors of Worldly Gain to
Religious Enterprises. and Devout Laymen
Who Give Important Aid to Pastors.

UeHtTOuS COulTIDUtOTS Oh WOTlOEY UdlH 10
Religious Enterprises. and Devout Laymen
Who Give Important Aid to Pastors.
Perhaps there is no city in the United States
in which church life is active. proportional to
population, as Indianapolis Everybody knows
the preachers of this city; active and energetic
workers as they are but the other powers that
make for righteousness. the lay members. have
never been specially placed before the public
biographical)v, as the preachers have been in
the Journal. Everybody hears of this or that
church's activity, and there is frequent wonder.
by those outside of the church organization, as
to what element it is that gives the energy.
The oldest Presby terrain church in the city is
the First Presbyterian now under the pastor
ship of Rev. NJ. L. Haines This is the mother
church, and though surrounded by fourshing
family of daughters, is by no means superannu-
ated She is staid and elderly, it is true, but
not old-fogyish. Thomas II. Sharpe has long
been one of the pillars of the First Church, and
perhaps. from first to last, has given Of his
| substance more than any other member. Fhe
white and patriarchal beard of James n Greene
may be seen there Sunday after Sunday and at
business. Robert S. Mckee is another we'll
known pillar, who can be counted upon at any
time when church funds are needed. John II.
Holiday. of the News, has been member of
this church all his life, having been born into
| the church. his father the late Rev. VIM. Holii
| day, having been at one time its pastor. SEN
| ator Harrison is stanch member Of this church.
! For many years he taught Bible class, which
was especially popular with young men, and was
long an elder in the church, only giving UP act
| i've service by reason Of necessarily long alb
sences attending to his duties In Washington.
When at home, every Sunday finds him in his
accustomed seat in the First Church
The Second Presby terian Church has fur
nished three great preachers to the East, Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher to Brooklyn, Rev. ]. L..
| Withrow to Boston, and Rev. William Alvin
Bartlett to Washington. There Is some first
class preaching being done there now by DR..
James Mcleod. The Second is now the wealth
| lest Presbyterian Church in the city. Among
the most prominent of its lay members are Gen.
7. A. Morris, Gen. George B. Wright, John NJ.
Butler, Judge Lewis G. Walker, H. H. Walker,
John S. Spann. /. c. Hays and William S. Hub
bard. General Morris and William S. Hubbard
| are perhaps the OLDEST MEMOIRS, ana formed
part Of Beecher's congregation forty years ago.
| The Tabernacle Church, which, Phunix-like,
rose upon the ruins of the old Third Church. has
| perhaps the most active and energetic congrega-
| ton of any Presbyterian Church in the city, I'm
der pastor, Rev. j. A. Rondthaler, who is what
somebody once called Daniel Webster, "a steam
| engine in breeches." In this church there is a
corps Of eighteen men who 60 out ebout the city
and hold prayer aud mission meetings. In this
church there are three men who, for many
| years. were props to the old Third Church, Silas
T. Bowen, Charles N. Todd and Jesse D. Car
| michael. They still active in the cause, and
and women who follow in their footsteps, among
whom are Stanton j. Peelle. NJ Y. McGilliard
j. F. Wallick and John g. Blake.
In the Fourth Church, which has ayoung and
thorouehgoine pastor Rev. q. L. McNutt. there
is now to be seen reawakened activity. Among
the working members OF the Fourth. and the
giving members, are William Coughlen J. G.
Kingsbu-y and Col Samuel Merrill. IL the
looked up to as the father of the. congregation;
DR.. ". H. Wishard occupies Similar place il
the Seventh Presbyterian Church, and w N
Jackson to the Twelfth Presbyterian Church.
In the Episcopal churches there is now ar
earnestness and ulanimty that has not always
prevailed The rectors Of the two large congre
CATIONS st. Paul's and Christ, Drs. Jenckes ani
Bradley, are in perfect accord, and each congre
CATION has its field for mission work. For many
years Aqula Jones was one of the largest con
tributing member of st. Pauls, and is Still
prominent in the church. John W. Murphy, W
J. Holiday. Joseph A. Moore, D. E. Snyder ant
George c. Duy are also energetic members O.
this church. Mrs. Eliza Hendricks, both before
and since the death of her husband, the lat'
Vicepresident, has taken q deen interest il
church matters, and contributed freely to al
good works. St James, fourishihg mission
under the superintendent Of J. N. Winters
The leading workers in Christ Church are r. r
Parker, Isaac Kiersted. George W. Cobb ant
! Richard Talbot. Mr.. Parker has the superin
tendence of st. Georges Mission, aided by
corps of able assistants. ladies and gentlemen
Mrs. Hall and Eouis Howland have started
colored mission, which is proving very success
! full.
In the Methodist churches among the pillar
9f Merdan-street CHURCH may be mensione'
, William II. Roll. MIR. Roll has done perhaps q
! much or more true missionary work in an,
, about this city as any person who can DO named
and has conducted services in hospitals. prison
. and in other places where the gospel Is seldom
taken. The leading men in Roberts Par
Church are Judge Robert Lamb, w. G. Cor
nelius, Frederick Bags and Col. John w. Ray
) AT Central-avenue Church there is large corp
} of active workers. Besides this, the congrega
, ton comes nearer being one family in thei
3 freedom of intercourse than the membership o
4 most of the churches named. Among the "pi
lars" may be mentioned w. D. Cooper, Capt
Eli F. Ritter, Will Smith and Will G. Va
. Arsdel. At Grace Church Taylor Elliott az
> Jesse Jones are looked upon as the substantia
props There is no one who can be speeificRi
called pillar" at Fletcher-place Church. I
this church the ladies are, perhaps. more activ
9 Marsee may be mentioned as in the front ran
l in church and Spnday-school work Al tn
t new church, Hall place, tie chief workers fo
the interests of the church may be said to b
. Mrs.. John NJ. Sims The two last-named pei
sous mada the largest contrhutions toMAc